Have you ever felt like sailors speak a different language? Well, they do. It's a language of precision, practicality, and history. So interesting is this seafaring language that once you've learned it, it sticks with you no matter where you are. Today, we'll take a beginner's voyage through this language, immersing ourselves in the jargon of the deep sea. But before we set sail, remember: every journey begins with a single step, every climb, with the first handhold. Don't expect to become an expert overnight. Relax. Enjoy the ride.
One of the fundamentals of understanding sailing terminology is knowing the parts of the boat. Let's start there. The front end of the boat is called thebowsprit. Nary a day at sea or in conversation with sailors will go by without hearing this. The right side is thestarboardand the left, theport. The boat's back end is thestern. Thekeelis the boat's backbone, extending from beneath the boat along its centerline.
After getting to know the parts of the boat, the next leap in sailing language pertains to its operations.Asternmeans behind the boat, whileabeamrefers to right angles to the centerline of the boat. When the wind is coming from ahead the boat, you'd say it'sblowing from ahead, and when the wind blows from astern to the front, it's calledfollowing wind. Thehelmis the mechanism for steering, and toheelmeans that the boat leans sideways under the force of the wind.
Then some terms are thrown around more in conversation than in operation — these are your key to winning both camaraderie and respect. You might not use them much in your first months of sailing, but their understanding will greatly enhance your sailing experience. The termscurvyis an old sailor's term for a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C, not that you'll be likely experiencing that on your sailing trips, but it's a fun word to know. Asea dogis an affectionate term for an experienced sailor, while alandlubberrefers to a person who is uncomfortable, or inexperienced at sea – which is exactly what you won't be, after digesting this sailing terminology guide.
Remember, making mistakes is part of learning. So don't be afraid to use your newly learned terms, even if you're not quite sure they're correct. Happy sailing!